Arvidsjaur Reykjavik enchanting Trier Tampere Oslo Stockholm Mainz Glasgow Göteborg you! Koblenz Dublin Riga Kerry Kaunas Kaiserslautern London Gdansk Minsk Speyer Frankfurt-Hahn Wroclaw Katowice Worms Santiago de Bratislava Compostela Budapest Biarritz Verona Balaton Santander Milan Venice Porto Montpellier Bologna Madrid Reus Pisa Gerona Faro Jerez de la Pescara Frontera Valencia Rome Bari Majorca Alghero Malaga Granada Fès Marrakech Tenerife Fuerteventura Touchdown in the heart of Romance! Only one hour to castles, kings, Kaisers and the beautiful Loreley We welcome you to the Central Rhine Valley, designated as a Unesco World Cultural Heritage site. Enjoy the sights of the region. From the cities of Worms, Speyer, Kaiserslautern, Trier, Koblenz and Mainz, as well as the Rhine and Moselle Valleys, walk in the footsteps of Germany’s history. Some of the country’s most valuable historical treasures are only a short drive away from Frankfurt-Hahn Airport. And once you have had your fi ll, simply take a connection to the next destination: Madrid, Budapest, London or Stockholm perhaps? However, fi rst and foremost: we are glad to have you as our guest! www.hahn-airport.de EV 105x210 4c UK.indd 1 14.12.2007 14:06:43 Uh Trier inviting Mainz you! Koblenz Kaiserslautern Speyer Worms A feeling that goes under your skin... Treat yourself to a holiday of pure romance and full of passion. Six towns in south- west Germany invite you to partake in exciting experiences, creative pleasures and unforgettable memories. The romantic cities of Trier, Koblenz, Mainz, Worms, Speyer and Kaiserslautern – all boasting a wealth of history, all situated along the Rhine and Moselle rivers and all of them marked by legendary castles and palaces, mighty cathedrals and churches, crooked old streets and modern shopping arcades, alluring culinary specialities and world-famous wines. Sparkling moments are guaranteed... ! The weather and climate have always been particularly kind to this region. Fresh fragrant air rests over the elevations of the Palatine Forest while lower down, the abun- dant Rhine Valley fans out like the Garden of Eden: It is here that almond trees present their pink blossoms so early in the year, figs and lemons ripen in the summer warmth and, in autumn, a sea of grapes transforms the hills of the vineyards into a golden vista. This is the vast, beautiful, earthy, wine-loving and sun-drenched land of Rhineland- Palatinate. Its charming towns and picturesque landscapes provide the enchanting surroundings for your sparkling romantic holiday treat. Treat yourself to art, culture and history, events, wellness and pleasure! 2 11 Trier exciting Mainz you! Koblenz Kaiserslautern Speyer Worms Mainz Cathedral Palatinate Forest Places to indulge your passion... Getting to your prickling experience... Let‘s go to the Romantik Cities! Sparkling moments guaranteed, passions aroused! Getting to Rhineland-Palatinate from UK, Ireland or Sweden by air couldn‘t be simpler Enter Trier as the Romans once did, through the Porta Nigra gate. Amid the lively or more fun, and Frankfurt-Hahn Airport (HHN) is the ideal starting point from which to atmosphere of the medieval city, sights such as the amphitheatre, the Roman baths explore the state. and the majestic throne room of Emperor Constantine the Great are bound to impress anyone with even the most fleeting interest in history! Did you know that Trier Cathedral More detailed information on www.romantic-cities.com. is Germany‘s oldest church, and in the 4th century AD was the largest church in the whole Roman Empire? Koblenz is where the Moselle meets the Rhine, beneath the Kaiser-Wilhelm monument at the famous Deutsches Eck (German Corner), just a stone‘s throw from the old quarter. Are you fascinated by the Romantic Rhine? Stol- zenfels Castle is the first of more than 40 castles, palaces and fortresses in the Rhine Valley. Delve into the legend of the mysterious Loreley… When the grapes hang fat and heavy on the vine, the true charm of Mainz comes to the fore with countless wine festivals, quaint bars and a vibrant young restaurant scene. Surrounded by the renowned wine-making regions of Rheinhessen and Rhein- gau, this is a place where you can indulge and develop your passion for fine wine, and enjoy a varied programme of cultural events. Once an important centre of politics and power, Speyer has been shaped by rulers with a passion for architecture. No fewer than eight German kings and emperors lie buried inside Speyer‘s awe-inspiring cathedral, the largest Romanesque church on the European continent Together with the cathedrals in Mainz and Worms, it forms a chain of Romanesque imperial cathedrals along the Rhine and symbolises the region‘s rich history. Kaiserslautern is known for the traditional passion of its inhabitants for the beau- tiful game. The football stadium is the scene of celebration, anxiety and even triumph – a real maelstrom of emotions. Kaiserslautern is a city of contrasts: the football arena, the natural beauty of the ancient Palatinate Forest, Europe‘s largest Japanese garden, cosy wine bars, and restaurants with French-inspired cooking. Passion can have many faces! Pride, war, jealousy and love are the ingredients of the epic medieval tale of the Nibelungs, in which trickery and deception lead to the murder of Siegfried the Dragon Slayer, Germany‘s most popular hero figure. Most of the scenes from the Song of the Nibelungs are set in and around Worms, a town where the boundaries between imagination and reality begin to blur, and where the Nibelung Festival brings the ancient Rhineland-Palatinate saga to life in its original setting... Tourist Board 4 Trier awaiting 6 Cities Mainz you! Koblenz Kaiserslautern Speyer Worms Trier, Imperial Baths Mainz Cathedral Trier – the second rome 1 Still to this day the colossal Porta Nigra town gate marks the largest Roman metropolis north of the Alps. In the historical old town of Trier, hundreds of years of architectural history blend together with trendy cafés and cosy wine taverns to create a captivating atmosphere. Germany’s oldest town is in the middle of the Moselle valley. Its idyllic en- virons abound with hidden treasures. Come and explore its beauty wandering through the vineyard slopes, strolling along the river banks or cruising down the Moselle, Saar or Ruwer rivers. Sparkling moments are guaranteed in Trier since it is Germany’s sparkling wine ma- king capital! The Petrisberg above the Roman amphitheatre is the perfect location to enjoy a picturesque sunset. The panoramic view from St. Mary’s Column down to the sun-drenched meander of the Moselle river is matchless for romantic evenings. Stylish candlelight dinners await you in the restaurants on the terraces of the Moselle river while a plethora of excellent meals and wines are to be found within the historic walls of the vineyards. Mainz – wine throughout the year 2 When the vines are sagging with an abundance of plump grapes this town on the Rhi- ne presents its most charming face with innumerable wine festivals and lively culinary experiences in the traditional vineyard taverns. The highlight is the Mainz Wine Market on the last weekend of August and the first weekend of September. Later in the year, sample exquisite Rheinhessen wines in the traditional wine taverns of the picturesque old town. Explore its narrow alleyways and splash out in its fancy shops. Among the oldest cities in Germany, Mainz boasts a vast 1000-year-old cathedral, a perfect backdrop for the sea of lights which illuminate the Christmas market during the Advent season. You will frequently encounter Johannes Gutenberg, the inventor of the printing press – Mainz has dedicated the Gutenberg Museum and the Johannisfest at the end of June to its most famous son. You will be overwhelmed by the heavenly blue light of St. Stephan’s Church with its unique Chagall windows. The Shrove Mon- day procession is a festival of gaiety and the absolute highlight of the famous Mainz Carnival. Ein Spaziergang durch die Altstadt und hinauf zum Kaiser Wilhelm-Denkmal am Deutschen Eck ist eine lebendige Geschichtsstunde. Mit der Fähre gelangen Sie über den Rhein zur spektakulären Festung Ehrenbreitstein. Ein Klassiker der Rheinromantik: die Schifffahrt auf dem Rhein von Koblenz zum sagenumwobenen Felsen der Loreley! Dazu Kunst in vielfältigen Museen, Kultur in Stadttheater und Kleinkunstbühnen, Shopping in kleinen Boutiquen und großen Malls ... und als prickelnde Erfrischung zwischendurch ein schäumender Rieslingsekt aus der Region! 6 7 awaiting you! Speyer – the imperial city 5 Speyer looks back on over 2000 years of living history and rightly bears its imperial title – no fewer than eight German kings and emperors lie buried in the awe-inspiring Speyer Cathedral. The largest Roman church in Germany has been on the UNESCO World Heritage list since 1981 and attracts visitors from all over the world with its medieval beauty. Once a centre of politics and power, today Speyer captivates visitors with its peer- less sights and impressive historical Old Town. The Via Triumphalis, Speyer’s shopping promenade, is lined by hundreds of open-air seats for ‘spectators’. Between the ca- Koblenz, Ehrenbreitstein Kaiserslautern Speyer, Old Gate thedral and the Altpörtel a wealth of modern street cafés, traditional wine taverns and 3 lively bistros are bunched together like pearls on a string. Oleanders adorn your way through the romantic alleys, palms decorate the historic squares while the promenades Koblenz – the only town on the Rhine & Moselle rivers encourage you to pleasantly linger. Speyer – clearly a place of stylish romance! Situated at the Deutsche Eck, the world-famous “German Corner”, where the winding paths of the Rhine and Moselle rivers meet, nestles Koblenz, one of Germany’s most Worms – the town of the Nibelung Saga beautiful towns and the ideal starting point for exciting excursions into the Upper 6 Middle Rhine Valley – a Unesco World Heritage Site.